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My dog needs to be better behaved at home and in public – which class should I take?” Click Here

Registration for the fall session is Wednesday, September 6th from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm.
Registration Fee is $50.00 for 8 weeks of classes, unless otherwise noted.
Must show proof of current vaccinations.

List of Classes:

Puppy Socialization

Pre-school for puppies! Geared to the short attention span of puppies under 6-months old, the class is an introduction to good manners and a stepping-stone class to obedience and conformation training. It is designed to help you communicate with your puppy and teach him/her some basic skills for happily living in your home and community. . The class environment will also help with socialization by exposing him/her to other dogs and people. An introduction to tunnels, plank walking, and wobble boards helps your puppy gain confidence in unfamiliar situations. Be sure to have your puppy well-rested and ready for fun! For puppies 3 to 6 months of age. Handlers of all ages with instructors’ approval.

S.T.A.R. stands for Socialization, Training, Activity, Responsibility. Similar to Puppy Socialization, the AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy class is designed to help you communicate with your puppy and teach him/her some basic skills for happily living in your home and community. At the end of the class, your puppy will be given the AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy examination. For puppies 3 to 6 months of age. Handlers of all ages with instructors’ approval.Some of the behaviors to be tested include:

Designed to teach you and your dog basic skills for a family dog, and to prepare both of you for further classes. This is the foundation for all Obedience and Rally classes. Classes are structured to provide an opportunity to work with your dog around other dogs and distractions, and to receive guidance from instructors for learning both training exercises and addressing problems living with your dog. Dogs should be 6 months or older, able to participate in a class situation safely around dogs and people. Handlers 15 years or older, exceptions with instructor’s approval.

Exercises to be taught include:

Focus

Walking on a loose leash with automatic sit beside handler

Sit for exam (instructor touching dog’s head)

Recall (dog comes and sits in front of handler)

Finish (dog returns to heel position)

Sit and down stay

Equipment needed:

6-foot leash (leather or fabric, comfortable in your hand)

An appropriate collar for training purposes

If using treats, a pocket with small, soft, tasty treats

Prerequisites: None

Beyond Basics

This training is for the companion dog whose owner wants continued socialization and a better-trained dog at home and in public. Handlers will learn positive training methods to refine and proof their dog’s basic skills. Each dog will also be taught at least 1 trick. Note: Dogs in season will not be allowed in class.

Exercises to be taught include:

Loose-leash walking

Recalls (come when called)

Wait

Stay

Leave it

Go to a bed or mat

Equipment needed:

6-foot leash (leather or fabric, comfortable in your hand)

An appropriate collar for training purposes

If using treats, a pocket with small, soft, tasty treats

Prerequisites: Dogs must have successfully completed the Beginning Obedience class. Handlers must be 16 years or older.

Novice Obedience

Designed for students wanting to improve their skills and their dog’s performance. The Novice class is the foundation for future levels of training and participation in Novice Obedience trial competition, which is a goal for many people. Dogs work both on and off lead, and time and distance of exercises increases, with recalls and group sits and downs (1 and 3 minutes) about 40 feet away. For dogs 6 months and older and handlers 15 years and older, exceptions with instructor’s approval.Exercises to be taught include:

Figure 8 heeling

Stand for exam

Heeling off lead

Recall and finish off lead

Sit and down stay with handlers across the room

Equipment needed:

6-foot leash (leather or fabric, comfortable in your hand)

An appropriate collar for training purposes

If using treats, a pocket with small, soft, tasty treats

Prerequisites: Beginning Obedience class or comparable skills.

Open Obedience

This is a competition obedience class with the intent of working toward showing at the Open level, although it is also good if you just want to work on more advanced skills with your dog. Students starting out in Open or ready to show are welcome. The goal is to be able to work off lead with your dog.Exercises to be taught include:

Retrieving on the flat and over the high jump

Broad jump

Out of sight group sit (3 minutes) and group stay (5 minutes)

Drop on recall

Equipment needed:

6-foot leash (leather or fabric, comfortable in your hand)

An appropriate collar for training purposes

If using treats, a pocket with small, soft, tasty treats

Prerequisites:
The Novice Obedience class completed with the Instructor’s recommendation; and/or be able to demonstrate their ability to perform the Novice exercises.

Proofing & Distractions

Work on advanced skills with increasing distractions (ex: having to choose between taking a treat within reach and following a command).Equipment needed:

6-foot leash (leather or fabric, comfortable in your hand)

An appropriate collar for training purposes

If using treats, a pocket with small, soft, tasty treats

Prerequisites: Dog must be capable of working off lead and under verbal control.

Canine Good Citizen

This class is designed to help you teach your dog basic good manners, both for home and in the community. After passing the CGC test at graduation, your dog will receive a Canine Good Citizen certificate from the American Kennel Club. For dogs 6 months and older, and handlers 15 years and older in a group class.Exercises to be taught include:

Dog to accept petting and grooming by evaluator

Walking with handler through a crowd with distractions

Proper dog behavior upon meeting people and dogs

Accepting being left with a stranger while handler goes out of sight

Equipment needed:

6-foot leash (leather or fabric, comfortable in your hand)

An appropriate collar for training purposes

If using treats, a pocket with small, soft, tasty treats

Prerequisites: Dogs are expected to already walk on a loose lead, sit and down stay and come when called.

This class provides an opportunity to enhance basic obedience skills in a less formal setting, and prepares you and your dog for Novice Rally competition, if that is your goal. Courses follow consecutive numbered cones with signs instructing the performance of a particular skill. All exercises are on lead. Handlers are encouraged to frequently communicate with and praise their dogs. Most of all, this class should be fun for both of you. For dogs 6 months and older.Topics include:

Learn the signs used in Rally

Practice course navigation

Learn rules for competition

Equipment needed:

6-foot leash (leather or fabric, comfortable in your hand)

An appropriate collar for training purposes

If using treats, a pocket with small, soft, tasty treats

Prerequisites:

Dogs should able to participate safely in a class situation around people and dogs. Handler/dog team must have completed Beginning Obedience or can demonstrate the dog’s ability to walk on a loose lead, sit, down, come, and stay on lead. Exceptions allowed with instructor’s approval.

Advanced Rally

This class prepares you and your dog to participate in the different levels of competition Rally trials (Novice, Advanced, and Excellent). Advanced and Excellent are performed off lead, however practice is usually on lead. Rally is a great way to just have fun with your dog, but you may want to try this style of competition.

Topics include:

Practice with Novice Rally signs

Additional signs for higher levels are introduced

Jumps (high, broad, and bar)

Equipment needed:

6-foot leash (leather or fabric, comfortable in your hand)

An appropriate collar for training purposes

If using treats, a pocket with small, soft, tasty treats

Prerequisites: Beginning (Novice) Rally skills are required.

Scent Work

Scent Work is patterned after the techniques used to train working detection dogs. You and your companion will work as a team to search for a specific scent. It is an activity that builds a bond between you and your dog and builds confidence in many dogs. For all dogs 9 months and older. In addition to the class fee of $50.00, there is a $10.00 material cost.

The weekly classes include but are not limited to:

Discussion of equipment

Games to play to encourage and motivate

Recognizing and alerting on odor

Leash handling

Obedience to odor

Container, exterior, interior, and vehicle searches

Rules and regulations to compete in Scent Work trials

Equipment needed:

Responsible shoes, no flip flops

HIGH value treats and plenty of them, but no raw meat

If your dog is toy motivated, bring two of the same toy

No females in season

Bring a hungry dog

Your dog should be energized, not tired

6-foot leash and flat collar

Please do not wear highly scented perfumes

Prerequisites: None

Tricks

Handlers will learn positive training methods to teach their dogs a variety of behaviors and tricks. Handlers will be given the opportunity to learn many of the tricks required for the AKC Trick Dog titles. The Novice Trick Dog test will be offered during the last week of class. For all dogs 6 months and older. Note: Dogs in season will not be allowed in class.Some of the tricks to be taught may include:

Walk on a 6-foot long balance beam or board a few inches off the floor

Fetch it and give

High five

Jump through a low hoop or over a low bar

Kennel up (go in crate, stay until released)

Shake hands

Spin in circle

Tunnel (agility or child’s tunnel)

Equipment needed:

Appropriate training collar

6-foot leather or fabric leash

Soft training treats

Prerequisites:
Dogs must have basic obedience skills and be able to work in a class setting with other dogs in close proximity.

AKC Conformation Handling

(No class on 4th Tuesday of the month for club meetings.)
The purpose of this class is to improve the handler’s skills in the AKC Conformation Ring. To give the dog experience of being examined by a “judge” and exposure to many different things associated with AKC Dog Shows. This class is structured for all levels of handling skills, from beginner to very experienced.Classes include but are not limited to the following basic handling skills:

Ring procedures

Setting the collar

Showing the bite

Correct gaiting speed

Hand stacking

Free stacking

When to bait

Equipment needed:

Show collar (usually a snake chain or small link chain) and lead; or Resco, Martingale-style lead that is collar and lead in one